New Female Gecko Vomiting after Eating

Athedwyn

Athedwyn

New member
Hello, just joined GU! I'm worried about my first leopard gecko. I got her about a week ago (October 17, 2015). She looked pretty healthy when boyfriend and I purchased. She had dusted crickets in her store terrarium. Was with 1 other female, same age. That night, she ate 3-4 gutloaded crickets dusted with Zoomed calcium. Found she vomited the next day. Next day she had liquid poop diarrhea. Wouldn't eat for 2 days after. Yesterday had a solid poop with urate and ate 3 mealworms (dusted slightly with multivitamin and calcium/only fed on apples and bran they came with), found vomit this morning. I set up a vet appointment on Monday afternoon (Oct 26th). It was the earliest I could get. Not sure if there is anything else I can do but figured I would post here just in case if there was some extra advice.

Basic Information
Species of lizard: Leopard Gecko
Gecko's name: Viola
Morph: Super-Hypo maybe?
Gender: Female
Age: ~1yr
Weight: currently unknown, will get at vet

Enclosure dimensions (length x width x height): 10 gallon tank/20x10x12
Substrate provided: Reptile carpet; porcelain tile with texture on hot half of tank (on top of reptile carpet)

What type and brand of thermometer: 2 digital probes (brand unknown)
What is the ground temperature right on the substrate under the warm dry hide: 88.6 degrees F
What is the air temperature on the warm end about 4 inches up from the ground: 89 degrees F
What is the air temperature on the cool end about 4 inches up from the ground: 76 degrees F
What device(s) are used to maintain the temperature: Undertank heater, Day White Spot Lamp, Moonlight Spot Lamp

Insects and worms, list type: Crickets and mealworms
Regular diet fed to the insects: gut-load calcium block, Fluker's Cricket Quencher calcium fortified
Regular diet fed to the worms: apples, store bran they came with, about to start on cricket gut-load

How often do you feed your gecko? Every other day at dusk
Please list any supplements (with brand names) used. How are they given and how often? nothing other than Calcium and Multivitamins

Additional Information
General
Gecko's total length: unknown right now
Length of your reptile when you first acquired it: New so same as above
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner): Scales n' Tails
Captive bred or wild caught: captive bred

Vivarium
Number of hides: 2
Location of hides: 1 large on hot side and middle, 1 moist hide on cool side
Is there a humidity hide? location? Yes on cool side with Eco-Earth
Please describe any other furnishings: 2 fake plants, calcium dish, shallow water bowl
List recent changes in the environment, if any: New home from reptile store

Lighting
Artificial lighting
Incandescent ("screw-in" type bulbs): 1 day heat lamp, 1 moonlight lamp wattages: Unknown, will try and find out
Fluorescent (tube bulbs): No
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window: ambient light from window with blinds; no direct sunlight

Heating
Ventilation space for your UTH by elevating the tank above the shelf (some UTHs come with sticky feet for the tank corners): Sticky feet (from UTH) attached to tank corners
Are you using a thermostat(s)? No
Which hide does she/he spend most of her time? Hot/mid hide
Is the temperature decreased at night? by how much? Yes; 5-10 degrees

Humidity
Is the humidity measured? Yes
Humidity range: 32-45%

Diet
Are the insects and worms formally “gutloaded” 1-2 days prior to feeding off to your gecko? If so with? Crickets were, mealworms were not fully gutloaded
What calcium brand are you using? with D3, without or both? Zoomed ReptiCalcium with D3
Is the calcium in the tank with D3 or without? with D3
Multivitamins (include brand name)? Rep-Cal Herptivite with Beta Carotene Multivitamins
Please list any recent additions/changes in the diet: New but seems inconsistent

General Health
Is your gecko’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased? New, but very sleepy
Is your gecko’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased? New, but seems decreased
Weight (loss or gain): Slight loss
Discharge from the eyes or nose: No
Increased breathing rate or effort: No
Change in the droppings: 2 solid poops, 1 liquid poop since we've had her
Urates
---white or yellowish: White
---size of urates as compared to size of feces: Smaller
Abnormal skin color or shedding: No
Parasites on the skin or in the feces: Not that I can see
Weakness: Nothing to compare to since she's new (sleeps all the time)
Regurgitation: Twice in less than a week, within 12 hours after eating; both crickets and mealworms

Other Critters in Same Cage or in Household
List other animals that are kept in the same cage: None
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months): Betta fish on the other side of the room (acquired August 2, 2015)
Are any of your other pets ill? No

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A

acpart

Well-known member
Things sound pretty good, though I do feel that the air temp is a little hot and can dehydrate the gecko (but that wouldn't make her vomit). One vomiting incident is usually due to a hungry gecko that overeats. Diarrhea often occurs when the gecko switches to a new feeder. Repeated vomiting and diarrhea could be something else and I'm glad she's going to the vet. I don't think there's a problem waiting till the 26th either.

Aliza
 
CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
[MENTION=8562]acpart[/MENTION] said it best I think. Though you could bump the warm dry hide temp up a degree or two. I am just glad you have an appointment set to see a vet asap.
In a somewhat related bit of info, when I first got my Leo, his first defecation was very liquid. It could be nerves on her part. Depending on Violas history, she could have only been moved twice. From the breeder to the seller to you. If she spent significant time at the Scales n Tails she may have become comfortable there and the change in environment could have upset her. Just like any other animal, Leos seem to be susceptible to nervous issues.
Also, from experience, I have only been a Leo owner for 2 months tops, a 20 gallon long tank would suit her better. When I moved Apollo to his, his activity and personality increased so much. Now he acts like he is Godzilla :coverlaugh:
For measuring length try getting Viola to stay still on your hand, after she leaves grab a ruler or tape measure and check from where her mouth was to the best estimate of where her tail was. With weight, I bought a fairly inexpensive kitchen scale from Walmart. I think it was $10-$20.
Anyhow, you are definitely on the right path for giving her a happy and healthy life :biggrin:
 
Kilimodo

Kilimodo

New member
Hello wish you a thriving experience with new little monster :) ! I hope and think it might not ne too important!! The vet should Tell you, try doing fécal analyse whilst theire it never hurts !
I couldnt Hellop to notice you dust The food every feading with caclium withD3, it is not recommended to dust WITH D3 even more if se is eating everyday,
As mentionned By [MENTION=56237]CWilson13[/MENTION] she might not haved moved often and couldnt Digest her meal from The store since she needs her belle heat :) (=liquide poop)
And try purchasing a thermomètre, as you say The temp drops 5-10 degrees .. Y et have no way to meithure that temp dropp and her beally Heat ! :) ? Maybe not enough for proper digestion
Hope that hélps à bit ! Keep us posted about The vet
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Lighting
Artificial lighting
Incandescent ("screw-in" type bulbs): 1 day heat lamp, 1 moonlight lamp wattages: Unknown, will try and find out
Fluorescent (tube bulbs): No
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window: ambient light from window with blinds; no direct sunlight
Click to expand...

Leos find bright overhead lights stressful. If you need to add overhead heat, a ceramic heat emitter is best.

Please relocate the moist hide to the warm side. The warmth from an under tank heat mat generates humidity necessary for hydration and shedding.

I'd remove the calcium with D3 from the tank. There's a chance of overdose keeping it there.

Good on the Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3! I'd replace Herptivite with Zoo Med's plain (no D3) Reptivite.
 
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Athedwyn

Athedwyn

New member
Yes, I did make some changes already and will upgrade to a 20 gallon when Petco or Petsmart has another tank sale. Others I've heard varying arguments and furthered my research on those. And to be clear, I have thermometers, no thermostat (to control the temp). I'm just able to measure the temperatures. I think there was some confusion there. Update from the vet from today: he said Viola's overall health/husbandry was in excellent condition after a physical exam. I brought a fecal sample in plastic from Saturday evening and stored in fridge. That's going through analysis and I should hear back tomorrow morning.

Here's a financial summary on my end for Viola's visit this time for those who may find this information useful:
Exam: $50
Fecal Analysis: $39

EDIT:
The Vet Tech told me the cost for the fecal analysis before she took it to make sure I was okay with that. This is something I appreciate as I know some people have had bad experiences with hidden costs. Both the Vet Tech and Veterinarian were very professional, knowledgable, and had experience with other reptiles and leopard geckos. Viola was pretty feisty and did NOT want to be there but vet was able to handle her firmly and gently.
 
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Athedwyn

Athedwyn

New member
Looks like the test came back positive for Pinworm. Easily treatable and common and going back to pick up her medication today. Thanks again guys for all your help! Will edit this post with price of medication and dosage if that would be helpful.
 
JessJohnson87

JessJohnson87

New member
:yahoo: that you caught it early! Now I feel sorry for the other leo that was in the same enclosure as her in the pet store. Another reason why I hate pet stores.....they never take good care of the animals or disinfect the enclosure properly before they get a new shipment of critters in.
 
Athedwyn

Athedwyn

New member
I went to Scales N' Tales instead of a place like Petsmart cause I thought they would be better at that sort of thing! I do feel bad for the other leo now too!
 
JessJohnson87

JessJohnson87

New member
Sometimes they are and sometimes they're not. The place I get my dubias at has leopard geckos in shoebox type containers with sand. When I was in there the other day, I saw dead mealworms on the substrate of the containers and hatchling geckos that were so thin and frail looking. The cresties, chameleons, tegus and other lizards had better set ups than the poor leo's did. Made me want to buy all the little geckos and give them a good home.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Athedwyn said:
I went to Scales N' Tales instead of a place like Petsmart cause I thought they would be better at that sort of thing! I do feel bad for the other leo now too!
Click to expand...
What about contacting this pet store to let them know about the pinworms you've found in your new leo?
 
Athedwyn

Athedwyn

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
What about contacting this pet store to let them know about the pinworms you've found in your new leo?
Click to expand...

Yep! I was going to! Don't want another to suffer and can't take in another one right now even though I'd want to. Although, I suppose it could've been the crickets I had and not the pet store.
 
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Athedwyn

Athedwyn

New member
This post is meant as reference only and shouldn't be used to self-diagnose/self-treat your pet unless you are a professional. Giving medicine for an illness without knowing 100% the cause can be dangerous.
Viola was prescribed Safe-Guard Fenbendazole 10mg/mL ($17) for Pinworm. One oral syringe last night (0.3cc) and will give another dose of the same amount in 2 weeks with a follow-up fecal analysis 1 week after the last dose.
 
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